I don't think there's a "right" answer on the kitchen question. I have friends who recently chose their apartment based almost completely on the kitchen - not so much its size (though it's relatively large), but more on the fact that it had new marble countertops and stainless appliances. On the other hand, this is the kitchen in my one-bedroom (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/3728351414_29e9173474.jpg), which is basically just the far corner of the living room. That's the picture from the original listing, but the only thing I've changed is putting a small table over on the left for the microwave so I could regain that little sliver of countertop. It's obviously not great, but has never bothered me. And as perspective, I never cook anything elaborate, but I do cook; I'm not someone who can deal with a galley kitchen just because I subsist on takeout. ha.

And I guess I'm the token differing opinion on laundry - I haven't had in-home laundry since I moved out of my parents' house and it's never been a huge problem for me. That said, I've always lived within a block or two of a laundromat, so I guess if your place is not that convenient, it may be more of a deal-breaker.